The Otavalo Market

Located two hours outside of Quito, Otavalo is a small city. Its weekly market is a veritable kaleidoscope of color, a cacophonous, circus-like atmosphere that makes it one of South America’s most famous indigenous markets.

Dating back to pre-Inca times, the villagers from the surrounding areas have been bringing their wares down from the hills of Otavalo for hundreds of years to barter, exchange, sell, and socialize. Discover tapestries with geometric designs, woven ponchos, brightly colored alpaca scarves, and hand-knit sweaters, as well as woodcarvings and paintings by local artists. Inhabited by the descendants of Los Shyris, a civilization that spread from the coast to the highlands over 1,500 years ago, Otavalo is especially famous for its textiles woven on back-strap and shuttle looms. Visit the workshops of the weavers along with other artisans at work creating hats, weaving straw mats, and knitting sweaters. Also worth exploring is the surrounding countryside, rich in archaeological sites that include mounds, pyramids, and temples.

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